Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Meets with Chairman of Chinese Tus-Holdings Company

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Meets with Chairman of Chinese Tus-Holdings Company
TT

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Meets with Chairman of Chinese Tus-Holdings Company

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Meets with Chairman of Chinese Tus-Holdings Company

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha met in China Thursday with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tus-Holdings Co, Wang Jiwu, and corporate leaders to set the future direction of the partnership and to establish an incubator for innovation in deep technologies in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, which will be the first launch of joint innovation incubators as part of the cooperation between the two countries.

Al-Swaha is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of KACST and the Research, Development, and Innovation Development Authority (RDIA).
The minister reviewed the fruitful partnership with Tus-Holdings in laying the foundations for the success of the innovation oases in the Kingdom to include the foundational and digital infrastructure, digital resources, and platforms that support the provision of the best services and enablers for the entrepreneurship system, incubated startups, and hosted technology companies of all sizes.
Al-Swaha explained that these oases will positively impact strengthening the research, development, and innovation system in the Kingdom and contribute to building a sustainable economy.



Meta Adds Three Board Members Including UFC Boss Dana White, Key Figure in Trump's Orbit

Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship gestures as he speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, in New York, U.S., October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship gestures as he speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, in New York, U.S., October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
TT

Meta Adds Three Board Members Including UFC Boss Dana White, Key Figure in Trump's Orbit

Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship gestures as he speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, in New York, U.S., October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship gestures as he speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, in New York, U.S., October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

Meta has appointed three new members to its board of directors, including Dana White, the president and CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship and a key figure in the orbit of incoming President Donald Trump.

The social media company, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is also adding auto tycoon John Elkann and tech investor Charlie Songhurst, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post late Monday.

White's ties with Trump date back to 2001, when White hosted a UFC at the Republican's former casino-hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Trump Taj Mahal. Trump has also appeared with White at UFC matches over the years, especially in his 2024 campaign as part of efforts to appeal to younger male voters.

White, in turn, has had speaking roles at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican conventions and appeared on stage at Trump’s election victory party in November, even speaking briefly to the crowd.

White has built UFC “into one of the most valuable, fastest growing, and most popular sports enterprises in the world,” Zuckerberg said. “I’ve admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand.”

Zuckerberg is also active in mixed martial arts. Zuckerberg and fellow billionaire Elon Musk seemingly agreed to fight in a “cage match” in 2023, but it never happened.

Elkann, another person joining Meta's board, is the CEO of Exor, a Netherlands-based investment company, and chairman of its two auto companies, Stellantis and Ferrari.

Zuckerberg said Elkann has "deep experience running large global businesses and he brings an international perspective to our board."

Songhurst previously worked at Microsoft and joined began advising Meta last year on artificial intelligence.